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Disclaimer: I am no expert on love, relationships, or boys. These are just my personal thoughts on love from observing my own and my friends' relationships. So if I am not an expert, why am I writing this? Because it's nice to know that someone is just as confused as you are. Please don't think that I am a man-hater that believes we are all better off single, and that all the good men have disappeared along with the golden age of vinyl. Also, please don't think that I am a distraught princess waiting to be swept away so my fairytale can begin. I'm right in the middle, I guess. I'm a content-being-single 20-something with a cautious heart, hoping that one day I might find a permanent traveling buddy to put up with my love of breakfast food and bookstores.

So here it goes: my unqualified thoughts on love.

"Love" as we think of it is a flawed theory because we are flawed humans, saved by Grace.

It's a messed up thing, it'll never be perfect. The only perfect thing comes from The Lord. You just have to find someone who's good qualities outweigh the bad. It'll still be work. When I look at my life, the things and experiences I appreciate the most are the things I had to work for. So find someone you're willing to work for, when you're willing to work for it.

Sometimes, the love just leaves.

You're not sure why, and you really wanted to love that person; but you faked it and never made it. You can't hide it anymore. You have to admit that your mind wants so bad to love them and the pro-con list works in your favor, but your heart doesn't feel it. You care about them as a person (I promise, you always will) but the spark isn't there. It hurts, I know.

The love is there, but you have to go.

Father Time just hates you. You have to leave, they have to leave, one of you has to move, one of you gets too busy, your visa is about to expire... The list could go on. This leaves you with some amazing memories and life experiences. It wasn't bad times, just bad timing. You still care but your life has to move on. You'll see them in your hometown on holidays, or you'll meet in some exotic city for dinner, and all will be well. "We'll always have Paris".

You leave a little part of yourself with someone you love.

Maybe this isn't true for everyone, but I think it's true for a lot of people. It's been true for me. Maybe you leave a piece of yourself that you needed to get rid of, that you had outgrown. I think you learn to live with less for a little while; but then you grow and fill that space in yourself, with yourself. Someone once told me a really great analogy: when you love someone, and after that love ends, you take the piece of you that you associate with that person and put it away. You don't use it anymore, but you like to revisit from time to time and remind yourself of who you were when you were with them.

Unfortunately, someone might leave a bigger piece of themselves with you than what you leave with them.

If you find yourself relating to the second point on this post, you might find yourself relating to this one. It's not fair, it hurts, it's hard to live with yourself, and some nights sleep seems like a distant memory. I wish I could say something more uplifting but I can't. There aren't really words to make this feel better. You just have to keep living and wish happiness upon that person. The globe will still turn.

When it works, it works. When you know, you know.

I see this in my parents, grandparents, siblings, and married friends. I'm told it's a phenomenon that I will only understand after I experience. I'm in no rush, but I am looking forward to it.

No one knows anything about love.

We're all trying to figure this out. These words don't hold any absolute truths (or any relevant truths for that matter). These are just things I've seen in my life and the lives of my family and close friends. It's confusing, it doesn't make sense, it's not always predictable. Just live your life, follow your heart, and pursue God's will for your life.

Anything you would add? What are your thoughts? Email me or comment below!